The Insider was directed by Michael Mann and was released in 1999.
2.What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The main argument of the film is to question the chemicals that would daily use by these companies that produce them. Most likely, they aren’t even tested. Even if they are, there is no public knowledge of it. As a responsible consumer, you must be aware of every product you buy and what it represents. How was your product made, who was it made by, and what materials were used in it are all questions that we should be answering ourselves with all the products we purchase. In this case, the chemicals that were used in tobacco and their effects on the health of the users were unknown at that period of time by the public.
3.What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
There are several sustainability issues that this film addresses. The major problem would be the power and money that corporations have gained over the years over our government. These companies are only concerned with making a profit, so we should not trust the chemicals that they put in their products per say. The chemicals we use daily that we put on and in our bodies could have contaminants or be toxic themselves. This money and power can also gain media control, which is another sustainability problem. If there is control of the media, the truth about a certain subject can never get out educating the masses. The tobacco industry knew the harmful effects that their products had on the users, and they tested the chemicals in them in order to make them more powerful and addictive.
4.What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
The most interesting parts of the film were the constant threats that the ex-executive and his family received from unknown sources about revealing information about the tobacco industry. Some were death threats as others were in order to prevent him from testifying. This is crazy, and the weird thing is it actually happens to ordinary people. Citizens against the coal industry will get calls that are threatening due to the fact that they are against the coal mining. Whistle blowers have been threatened for not revealing the story in other situations with other types of companies as well. I just find this unbelievable.
5.What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
There weren’t any parts of the film that I didn’t like or weren’t interested in. I liked this movie.
6.What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
I want to learn more about the tobacco industry and how it has developed into what it is today. I wonder if many things have changed and if it is a well regulated system. There are still anti-smoking movements out there fighting against the health and environmental effects that tobacco use has. By looking into the tobacco companies’ dealings and the facts about their products, I might be able to come to a conclusion about what has happened in the last 15 years.
7.What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
I would say that this movie is recommended for high school students and onwards. The rating of the movie is pretty high, which limits the younger age groups from watching it. I believe that the movie will educate the masses the relationship between corporations, the government, and environmental issues that affect all of us. I don’t think this is an effective film to change the public’s opinion on the environment.
8.What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
By not allowing media control, the truth can be told to the masses. This truth will be able to educate them into making better consumer habits. I believe this movie tried to make the consumer think about what they were purchasing and how it may affect the world or themselves. Health issues are another big problem that is addressed by this movie and how corporations are only concerned about making a profit. We as consumers must be aware of the relationships that money and power can cause, and the detrimental impacts they may implement.
9.What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
There could have been more scenes in the movie that discussed the environmental effects that the corporations and the tobacco industry have had on the world. Either than that, the movie was not really meant for a environmental purpose. It focused more on the health issues of the users of the product.
The Insider
1. Title, director and release year?
The Insider was directed by Michael Mann and was released in 1999.
2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The main argument of the film is to question the chemicals that would daily use by these companies that produce them. Most likely, they aren’t even tested. Even if they are, there is no public knowledge of it. As a responsible consumer, you must be aware of every product you buy and what it represents. How was your product made, who was it made by, and what materials were used in it are all questions that we should be answering ourselves with all the products we purchase. In this case, the chemicals that were used in tobacco and their effects on the health of the users were unknown at that period of time by the public.
3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
There are several sustainability issues that this film addresses. The major problem would be the power and money that corporations have gained over the years over our government. These companies are only concerned with making a profit, so we should not trust the chemicals that they put in their products per say. The chemicals we use daily that we put on and in our bodies could have contaminants or be toxic themselves. This money and power can also gain media control, which is another sustainability problem. If there is control of the media, the truth about a certain subject can never get out educating the masses. The tobacco industry knew the harmful effects that their products had on the users, and they tested the chemicals in them in order to make them more powerful and addictive.
4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
The most interesting parts of the film were the constant threats that the ex-executive and his family received from unknown sources about revealing information about the tobacco industry. Some were death threats as others were in order to prevent him from testifying. This is crazy, and the weird thing is it actually happens to ordinary people. Citizens against the coal industry will get calls that are threatening due to the fact that they are against the coal mining. Whistle blowers have been threatened for not revealing the story in other situations with other types of companies as well. I just find this unbelievable.
5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?
There weren’t any parts of the film that I didn’t like or weren’t interested in. I liked this movie.
6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?
I want to learn more about the tobacco industry and how it has developed into what it is today. I wonder if many things have changed and if it is a well regulated system. There are still anti-smoking movements out there fighting against the health and environmental effects that tobacco use has. By looking into the tobacco companies’ dealings and the facts about their products, I might be able to come to a conclusion about what has happened in the last 15 years.
7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems?
I would say that this movie is recommended for high school students and onwards. The rating of the movie is pretty high, which limits the younger age groups from watching it. I believe that the movie will educate the masses the relationship between corporations, the government, and environmental issues that affect all of us. I don’t think this is an effective film to change the public’s opinion on the environment.
8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?
By not allowing media control, the truth can be told to the masses. This truth will be able to educate them into making better consumer habits. I believe this movie tried to make the consumer think about what they were purchasing and how it may affect the world or themselves. Health issues are another big problem that is addressed by this movie and how corporations are only concerned about making a profit. We as consumers must be aware of the relationships that money and power can cause, and the detrimental impacts they may implement.
9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
There could have been more scenes in the movie that discussed the environmental effects that the corporations and the tobacco industry have had on the world. Either than that, the movie was not really meant for a environmental purpose. It focused more on the health issues of the users of the product.